Megatron’s first journey to Walt Disney World was certainly one of our greatest household holidays, nevertheless it wasn’t with out challenges. That is the ‘grand finale’ to Child Bricker’s first WDW journey report, with persevering with protection of what went improper. It options pictures & ideas on forcing firsts, early mornings vs. late nights, trip downtime, our Figment Fail and extra.
That is the fourth a part of our Walt Disney World journey report, the direct follow-up to our ‘guardian fails’ throughout Megatron’s first WDW journey. Earlier than that, we shared ‘what went proper’ throughout our household journey – half 1 and half 2. In case you’re searching for the positives from this journey (and the overwhelming majority was superb), take a look at these first two components. They’re the heartwarming tales and pictures from Child Bricker’s first trip to Walt Disney World.
General, this was enjoyable and immensely satisfying as we rediscovered Walt Disney World as dad and mom. It was additionally an enormous studying expertise and went removed from flawlessly, however we wouldn’t commerce this journey–warts and all–for something. Anyway, right here’s the ultimate installment of this report with extra of our challenges in taking Child Bricker (Megatron) to Walt Disney World for the primary time. Let’s dig proper in…
Early Entry & Rope Drop – Given the previously-discussed points with Megatron’s sleep schedule, this isn’t going to come back as even a slight shock, however we didn’t do a single Early Entry or rope drop as a household. (I did a pair solo and may have reviews on these quickly.) Collectively, we made it to the parks earlier than 11 a.m. a grand whole of 1 time.
The dearth of rope drops was to be anticipated, as we have been holding Megatron on Pacific time. She will get up for the day at dwelling between 5:30 and 6 a.m., and early as that’s, it’s nonetheless too late for Early Entry when you account for preparing and transportation.
What I didn’t totally respect is simply how lengthy it might take to get out the door every morning. (Now I do know why the later Early Entry at Magic Kingdom is a lot busier than those that begin an hour earlier!) Undoubtedly far more of a manufacturing to get a child prepared, and it appeared that by the point we obtained every little thing completed, there have been sure steps of the ‘course of’ that already needed to be repeated. Once more, I hope that is partially a “abilities difficulty” and as we develop into more proficient at touring, we’ll have the ability to get out the door sooner.
On the different finish of the spectrum, one factor I forgot to say as one thing that went proper was late nights. Megatron’s “ultimate” bedtime at house is 7 to eight p.m. (large time air quotes round ultimate), which is 10-11 p.m. Jap. Because of this, we have been in a position to do park closings with ease. We didn’t try Prolonged Night Hours, however assume we are going to subsequent journey. That shall be through the hotter summer time months and we’ll wish to spend extra trip after darkish consequently.
Forcing Firsts – A number of months in the past, we made ourselves a ‘Child Bricker Bucket Listing’ that additionally capabilities as a listing of meant firsts. Our considering was that we wish to be purposeful about what she does and when, so we (and she or he) can look again on the issues she did first at every of the parks and when. We additionally need to have the ability to repeat sure milestones and recollections over time, so we wished to be strategic in selecting points of interest and experiences that can in all probability be round for many years to come back.
That is all a fantastic thought in concept, and we are going to kind of proceed to do it. The issue is that infants are about as unpredictable and sleepy as a home cat. We discovered ourselves placing issues off that we meant upon doing as a result of naps or different issues intervened. For instance, we deliberate on her carrying a selected outfit for her first trip on Journey into Creativeness, after which assembly Figment as we exited the trip. We additionally deliberate on her being awake for this.
We walked over to Journey into Creativeness three separate instances with that plan in thoughts. All thrice, she fell asleep through the commute. Because it seems, EPCOT is a giant park (who knew?) and the newborn service is a great spot for a nap! I’m undecided that I essentially remorse this, as her first trip (awake!) on Journey into Creativeness was actually memorable.
Generally, although, I feel we tried to choreograph an excessive amount of with the firsts and that led to us losing plenty of time and doing extra strolling and fewer precise issues. The top end result with Journey into Creativeness made that “price it,” however even that had one not-so-minor drawback. Sooner or later, we’ll be extra prepared to roll with the punches and simply let no matter occurs, occur.
Figment Fail – That one not-so-minor drawback with Journey into Creativeness is that Megatron has but to satisfy Figment. Between our late begins, his restricted set schedule, and her falling asleep en path to the Creativeness Pavilion…it simply didn’t occur. We virtually known as an audible and went to EPCOT on our final partial day, however we might’ve had ~45 minutes when all was mentioned and completed and that may’ve been a giant waste had she simply fallen asleep once more. Plus, we’ve discovered {that a} 45 minute window can vanish very quickly in any respect with a child.
Truthfully, we don’t remorse this! Whereas it might’ve been high quality to roll with the punches and do different issues whereas she was asleep, assembly Figment was not a type of issues. It’s actually essential to us that she’s awake for her first encounter with Figment, as all the meet & greets she’s completed whereas awake have been particular and enjoyable, whereas those she’s completed whereas asleep haven’t. If meaning pushing Figment off till she’s doubtlessly much less enamored with characters (I do know there’s an ebb and circulation), so be it.
In need of scheduling a number of extra days at EPCOT, there was nothing we might’ve completed in another way to keep away from this. It wasn’t a mistake–simply one thing that went improper. Hopefully she’ll be visiting Walt Disney World for the remainder of her life, so not each main “first” needed to occur this primary journey. Right here’s hoping the Figment meet & greet occurs subsequent time!
Sophisticated Outfits – Megatron should store at Dan Flashes, as a result of her outfits are so sophisticated. I get why individuals like cute clothes ensembles for infants as they’re nice for pictures and all that, however I’m not a fan. The extra items an outfit has, the extra seemingly one thing is to get misplaced or get bunched up within the child service and trigger discomfort.
Maybe worst of all, it’s an amazing problem for inept people making an attempt to vary infants and combating socks or pants as child does their greatest Pelé impression. (Not that I converse from expertise or something–simply searching for my fellow fathers…or moms! However critically, why do not one of the parenting books talk about this? There must be a full chapter devoted to socks shenanigans.)
I’m the knowledgeable on plenty of issues. You already know that. I do know that. Uh, not plenty of issues. A number of issues. However vogue is undoubtedly certainly one of them. And in my thought-about opinion, the head of child type is the onesie and the highest designer is the Home of Burt’s Bees. Looking their lookbook for the Summer time 2024 season, and there are simply so many placing kinds. Dinosaur onesies, dragon onesies, shark onesies. That’s a design workforce on the high of their sport; true child couture.
Half-joking apart, actually all of my favourite outfits for Megatron are from Burt’s Bees and so they go exhausting. Going ahead, I hope that she solely wears onesies whereas touring for his or her ease and ease. I do know that if I might get away with at all times carrying one-piece pajamas in public, I completely would. We shouldn’t deprive her of this golden window of alternative earlier than it turns into socially unacceptable.
Experience Downtime – This was not distinctive to our journey. Many friends lately appear to assume they skilled atypically unhealthy trip breakdowns throughout their Walt Disney World trip. In actuality, that’s as a result of attraction downtime is way greater than its historic common.
I’m undecided whether or not that clarification makes it higher or worse. Distress loves firm, so maybe you are taking solace understanding others are in the identical boat. Or perhaps you’re mad that Disney doesn’t deal with this recognized difficulty. (Truthfully, I don’t know if it’s one thing they even can totally deal with. Keep in mind how we warned of the lack of institutional information with the furloughs and layoffs again in 2020? Effectively, look no additional than this for the “fruits” of that short-sighted resolution, as upkeep departments have been decimated and have far fewer years of tenure.)
Both approach, this was a difficulty for us but once more. It was additionally an even bigger deal, perception-wise, when visiting with Megatron for the primary time since there are extra transferring items with a child. Whereas on a solo journey or when it’s simply the 2 of us, we are able to shortly pivot when what we meant to do is down. Probably not that large of a deal, besides throughout Early Entry. It was undoubtedly extra annoying this time, and I can see how this may be much more irritating with older youngsters, grandparents, or anybody with mobility points.
Animal Kingdom – We have been extra excited to take Megatron to Animal Kingdom than every other park at Walt Disney World. Effectively, apart from EPCOT. Okay, and Magic Kingdom. However we have been undoubtedly extra excited for DAK than DHS…and third place out of 4 continues to be respectable!
This was completely for the animals. She loves Yossarian the Cat and Walter Dogsney–and I imply loves them. The cat particularly, as a result of he’s very cat-like and spends his day tucked away in random containers and sleeping within the closet, so she doesn’t see him a lot. However when Yossarian comes up for deal with time and she or he spots him, she goes nuts. Yossarian in all probability ranks greater than I do along with her.
Megatron additionally actually likes seeing the newborn geese and cats at Disneyland, so we assumed Animal Kingdom can be a house run along with her. That it might simply blow her thoughts with otters, unique pigs, flamingos, large cats, and so forth.
We assumed improper. As greatest I can inform, she noticed one animal all day lengthy–a random duck within the walkway. The remainder of the time, she fixated on posts, handrails, or reflections in glass of the animal enclosures. I’m no child scientist, however she simply saved specializing in the foreground–and there was at all times one thing nearer to her than the critters. So it didn’t matter {that a} actually cool creature that may’ve blown her thoughts was off within the distance, as a result of she had to determine what was up with the pole inside her attain. And by that, I imply she needed to try to seize it so she might lick it.
Since we don’t let her lick any overseas objects, Animal Kingdom was a giant disappointment for her. (What’s the purpose of all these posts in the event that they can’t be licked?!) Consequently, Megatron’s favourite “animal park” is a crown nonetheless held by Disneyland due to its ducklings, goslings (child geese, not Ryan), cats, and different assorted critters. DAK was her least favourite park and undoubtedly our least favourite as dad and mom. As soon as you are taking the animals out of the equation, there’s not a ton to do for infants.
That’s actually the salient level of this from a planning perspective. You probably have a child and are debating which park to skip at Walt Disney World, give severe thought to Animal Kingdom. Earlier than this journey, I’d’ve assumed Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be the park to skip given how thrill-centric it’s develop into and what number of points of interest have top necessities. However DHS is extra doable and gratifying with infants, at the least in our view.
Animal Kingdom’s difficulty is that there’s not a ton for anybody, however infants have it particularly tough as a lot of the rides price doing have top necessities and/or are jerky. It’s additionally a scorching park with a ton of space to traverse, and never many “low stakes” choices for sitting in air-conditioning, because the stage reveals are all pretty lengthy and concerned. Usually that’s a great factor from our perspective, however not a lot with an toddler. It’s robust to commit that a lot time to a high-quality manufacturing in an enormous theater, as you don’t wish to disturb different friends if issues go sideways, and leaving shortly isn’t precisely straightforward.
Unsurprisingly, Magic Kingdom was far and away the most effective park for a child. We went in totally anticipating that as a result of Magic Kingdom is arguably the most effective park for all age teams with the biggest and most well-rounded slate of points of interest–and likewise as a result of it’s our private favourite. We’re additionally large EPCOT followers, after all, however we ended up being barely shocked at simply how good of a park that was for infants. The entire indoor pavilions provide big benefit; there are additionally sufficient smaller scale and low stakes points of interest which are good and relaxed for young children.
Famous person Sarah – This isn’t one thing that went improper, however quite, the explanation this checklist isn’t double or triple its size. Whereas I’m actually struggling to placed on pants (each my very own and the newborn’s on her), Sarah is singlehandedly holding the entire operation collectively. Simply have a look at her within the picture above…she’s not even flexing!
To not perpetuate the bumbling dad stereotype–I’d like to consider myself as semi-competent and I actually hate not being good at something–however I simply appear to come across extra, ahem, technical difficulties with Megatron. For instance, socks. How do you retain them on a child and, moreover, how on earth do you get them again on (assuming you don’t lose them outright) these tiny, consistently transferring ft? If Megatron is barely 50% sockless when left in my care, I take that as a win.
Sarah in some way manages to do all of it flawlessly, in a perpetual state of sleep deprivation with out criticism. I don’t know when the final time was that she obtained ~3 hours of uninterrupted sleep, however undoubtedly not within the 12 months 2024. Perhaps someday final November? There was a short window the place issues gave the impression to be swell earlier than sleep regression reared its ugly head. I’m in fixed awe that Sarah has managed the stress and calls for of this 24/7 job with out lacking a beat. I’d be completely dropping my thoughts.
At dwelling and through this journey, Sarah does and did the heavy lifting. I assist the place I can, from carrying Megatron to rocking her to sleep at night time, amongst different issues. However there are limitations on what I’m in a position to do as contrasted with Sarah. When the newborn begins crying and Hey Bear (my final line of protection) can’t get her to cease, there are solely two issues Megatron desires, and I don’t have these. I’m clearly a distant second favourite, maybe #3 behind Yossarian.
In the long run, fortunately far more went proper than improper on our first journey to Walt Disney World. No less than 90% of that was as a result of Sarah being a fantastic mother, anticipating issues and desires earlier than they come up and making all of it appear straightforward. I’m very, very conscious that it’s most undoubtedly not straightforward, as a result of after I’m working the present, we’re having bother simply holding ft totally socked. Though I suppose perhaps these journey reviews would’ve been “simpler” if it have been me in cost, as a result of what went improper would’ve been a one phrase publish: every little thing.
Even over the span of 4 posts and over 12,000 phrases, there’s nonetheless loads that we haven’t even coated. Issues that neither went proper nor improper, however simply “went.” This contains plenty of issues, from two of the hardest airports wherever (Los Angeles and Orlando) to the flights to desk service meals and extra.
The excellent news is that this journey was a fantastic studying expertise for us, and we’ve already put a few of the classes to make use of. I’m so glad we did this earlier than touring to Tokyo Disney Resort for the primary time, as this expertise taught us loads and reshaped our method. From issues so simple as packing extra effectively to studying the best way to higher regulate her sleep schedule. Already, the second journey goes higher than Child Bricker’s first!
As we proceed to get extra expertise below our belts, we’ll begin sharing recommendation quite than first hand reviews. Flying with a child is a giant one from that perspective, however we’ll even have extra on child carrying, navigating locations with and and not using a stroller, character meal critiques, and a ton extra. For now, thanks for becoming a member of us on this journey–we hope you discovered one thing from what went improper throughout Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World…or at the least had fun at my and Sarah’s expense!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on what went improper or proper throughout Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World? Anything you’re taken with studying about with regard to Megatron, infants within the parks, and many others? Anecdotes of your personal about first visits to the Disney parks? Some other questions? Listening to your suggestions is at all times appreciated, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!